This review may contain spoilers
Did not disappoint. Better than most GL'S I've seen
“Us” is one of the rare GL series that didn’t leave me disappointed. Nearly every element—from the cast and acting to the OST and storyline—was well executed. I found myself genuinely enjoying the experience, never regretting the weekly wait for new episodes.
Let me start by listing what stood out:
Visual Aesthetic
The colour palette and lighting were absolutely beautiful. A lot of GLs I’ve seen, like GAP, tend to overuse bright lighting and overlook proper colour grading (no offense to GAP fans—I don’t dislike the series). But “Us” found a perfect balance. The visuals were warm, cozy, and easy on the eyes. This is something GMMTV is generally good at, but “Us” handled it particularly well.
Direction:
P’Fon continues to prove herself as a remarkable director. Her work keeps improving, and when comparing “Us” to her previous GL, “23.5,” the growth is evident. The direction felt more confident and nuanced this time around.
Romance:
The romantic storyline was genuinely well done. I would rate it a solid 10/10. There were no overly cringey moments, no exaggerated flirting, and—importantly—no romance catered to the male gaze. The interactions between the leads felt natural and mature, and the chemistry between the cast was convincing enough that it felt real.
Music:
The soundtrack was strong. P’Emi and P’Bonnie both have amazing voices, and the music elevated the emotional tone of the show.
Story & Characters:
The story was adapted thoughtfully. I’ve heard that the original book had P’Kawi turning into a problematic character by the end, but the show wisely avoided unnecessary drama like that. P’Kawi became one of my favorite characters. Sing did an outstanding job portraying a character who is quite different from his real-life personality, and he made it believable.
That said, there were a few areas that didn’t quite meet expectations. As much as I love the series, I do feel that the pacing toward the end was off. It started at a good, steady pace, but as the series neared its conclusion, things felt rushed—especially the divorce arc, P’Kawi’s suicide attempt, and Grandma Bua’s death. While we did get scenes focusing on P’Kawi’s recovery, I felt they didn’t go deep enough. A more detailed look at his treatment and healing process would have made his arc even stronger.
Grandma Bua’s death also felt sudden. While it wasn’t entirely unexpected, it might have been better placed earlier in the story to allow for better emotional pacing. I also felt the second couple, Nene and Oat, didn’t get enough attention. Nene's character development came far too late, and while the scene where Khem sends men to her house was intense, I’m unsure whether it was entirely necessary. Still, I can understand why it was included.
Overall, Nehe deserved a more consistent arc, and the second couple’s storyline could have used more development throughout the series. That said, I’m glad the writers made changes from the original Chao Planoy novel—most of the changes improved the story rather than adding unnecessary drama.
One thing I appreciated was how the series handled Khem. He remained a constant antagonist, rather than receiving a last-minute redemption arc like in many other GLs. That consistency added weight to the narrative.
As for the final episode, I was pleasantly surprised. It wrapped up the story well, although the editing—particularly the background music—felt slightly out of place at times. That could just be my personal preference, but it stood out to me.
Final Thoughts
Overall, “Us” is one of the best GL series I’ve seen. It respected its audience, avoided unnecessary tropes, and told a heartfelt, grounded story. My only regret is watching it as it aired, because the weekly wait was painful—and now that it’s over, I definitely miss looking forward to new episodes. GMMTV deserves credit for creating a GL that didn’t feel out of place or rushed, and I’m genuinely thankful for it.
Let me start by listing what stood out:
Visual Aesthetic
The colour palette and lighting were absolutely beautiful. A lot of GLs I’ve seen, like GAP, tend to overuse bright lighting and overlook proper colour grading (no offense to GAP fans—I don’t dislike the series). But “Us” found a perfect balance. The visuals were warm, cozy, and easy on the eyes. This is something GMMTV is generally good at, but “Us” handled it particularly well.
Direction:
P’Fon continues to prove herself as a remarkable director. Her work keeps improving, and when comparing “Us” to her previous GL, “23.5,” the growth is evident. The direction felt more confident and nuanced this time around.
Romance:
The romantic storyline was genuinely well done. I would rate it a solid 10/10. There were no overly cringey moments, no exaggerated flirting, and—importantly—no romance catered to the male gaze. The interactions between the leads felt natural and mature, and the chemistry between the cast was convincing enough that it felt real.
Music:
The soundtrack was strong. P’Emi and P’Bonnie both have amazing voices, and the music elevated the emotional tone of the show.
Story & Characters:
The story was adapted thoughtfully. I’ve heard that the original book had P’Kawi turning into a problematic character by the end, but the show wisely avoided unnecessary drama like that. P’Kawi became one of my favorite characters. Sing did an outstanding job portraying a character who is quite different from his real-life personality, and he made it believable.
That said, there were a few areas that didn’t quite meet expectations. As much as I love the series, I do feel that the pacing toward the end was off. It started at a good, steady pace, but as the series neared its conclusion, things felt rushed—especially the divorce arc, P’Kawi’s suicide attempt, and Grandma Bua’s death. While we did get scenes focusing on P’Kawi’s recovery, I felt they didn’t go deep enough. A more detailed look at his treatment and healing process would have made his arc even stronger.
Grandma Bua’s death also felt sudden. While it wasn’t entirely unexpected, it might have been better placed earlier in the story to allow for better emotional pacing. I also felt the second couple, Nene and Oat, didn’t get enough attention. Nene's character development came far too late, and while the scene where Khem sends men to her house was intense, I’m unsure whether it was entirely necessary. Still, I can understand why it was included.
Overall, Nehe deserved a more consistent arc, and the second couple’s storyline could have used more development throughout the series. That said, I’m glad the writers made changes from the original Chao Planoy novel—most of the changes improved the story rather than adding unnecessary drama.
One thing I appreciated was how the series handled Khem. He remained a constant antagonist, rather than receiving a last-minute redemption arc like in many other GLs. That consistency added weight to the narrative.
As for the final episode, I was pleasantly surprised. It wrapped up the story well, although the editing—particularly the background music—felt slightly out of place at times. That could just be my personal preference, but it stood out to me.
Final Thoughts
Overall, “Us” is one of the best GL series I’ve seen. It respected its audience, avoided unnecessary tropes, and told a heartfelt, grounded story. My only regret is watching it as it aired, because the weekly wait was painful—and now that it’s over, I definitely miss looking forward to new episodes. GMMTV deserves credit for creating a GL that didn’t feel out of place or rushed, and I’m genuinely thankful for it.
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